Short game is killing me

[Paddy_2_Iron]

Have you considered going to a chipper for around the greens?

[jmiller3483]

Don't necessarily have room in my bag for one and have been enjoying success (relative to me) with this putting method. I've been trying to chip with an 8 iron or lower from greenside rough. Have had moderate success with this but I think with more practice it'll work

 

[ShallowbutDeadly]

Get yourself a Cleveland Smart Sole C wedge. I have a good short game and still carry one. It's a great little club for chipping and bump and runs. Basically the loft of a 9 iron but shorter and with a very upright lie angle like a putter. The sole is chunk proof. I still use my regular rotational swing motion with it but you can use it with a putting stroke if you want.

Kisner video is great, check that out. The golf swing is rotational, doesn't matter if you are hitting driver or a 5 yard chip, your hips/chest needs to rotate back and through the ball.

Also, I'm not sure what wedges you use but in my experience most golfer with a 5 or greater handicap should consider GI wedges like the Cleveland CBX2s.

[Golfjack]

Like many have said, I have made improvements to my short game from "I wasn't sure if I was going to duff it, pure it, or thin it through the green" to now "I'm certain I'm getting a good strike and can visualize the trajectory." For one, I moved to a 56 degree wedge. Unless you're really good at different clubs, don't use multiple clubs around the green. I either go 56 or PW (when there is more green to roll on). 60 comes in when I'm short sided, rarely. Always use the bounce unless in unique circumstances. So much more forgiveness. And lastly, and the most important that helped my contact was to make sure to rotate through the strike using a full rotation including lower body and upper. Don't just move your arms. I also do a putting stroke one which is more shoulders and upper torso but you can try that later. Actually that's the easier one. If you want to try that check Erik Cogorno. Stand real close, choke down, and just do a easy stroke. Anyway back to the most important part. You'll think wow that's not a full shot why move all those body parts, but it's more a feel, and you will move those parts less than a full swing, but still need to.

May or may not work for you, but that's what worked for me. Now when I miss a green (which is more often than not, I'm not a scratch golfer. More like 80's), I'm OK trying to get up and down. Worst case is bogey if you go two shots to next to green on a par 4 and take 1 chip two putts to get down. Then if you improve your ball striking and get more GIR, you'll get more pars and birdie chances.

Now what I'm working on is distance control and direction. It's much easier to improve on that part if you have consistent strike. If you don't have the mechanics down but are trying to improve distance control and direction, it's much harder. So step one I would say improve your mechanics, not buy a chipper club.